Scotland reports rise in norovirus cases year to date
Public health Scotland has reported a 13 percent increase in norovirus infections in 2024 to date compared to 2023.
In the first 11 months of the year, officials report 1,714 laboratory-confirmed cases, this compares with 1,513 cases reported during the same period in 2023 (all provisional data).
The total this year to date is significantly higher than the five-year average for the same time period between years 2015 and 2019, which was 1172.
*Data for 2020 and 2021 are not included in the five-year average due to the impact of COVID-19 interventions
Officials note that laboratory confirmations represent just a small proportion of the true incidence in the community as most cases will experience a relatively mild self-limiting illness and will not require medical attention and have a stool sample submitted for laboratory testing.
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Norovirus is a virus that is a common cause of infectious gastroenteritis that results in diarrhea and/or vomiting. Most people make a full recovery within a couple of days, however infection can be more serious for the very young and elderly.
The virus is easily transmitted through contact with infected individuals from one person to another.